Special Report: Inside the Vitrification Plant - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

Vit Plant Construction 2007

Vit Plant Could Start Up by 2013

A new Department of Energy study reveals Hanford's Waste Treatment Plant may be operational years earlier than previously thought, but at an added cost.

DOE says if they can build a second pre-treatment facility, that should allow them to get the low-activity waste plant up and running, and some waste treated before the heart of the plant is complete. More>>

Top Headlines

Special Report: Inside the Vitrification PlantMore>>
Bechtel's Forward Thinking Means No Hiring Rush before Vit Restart
Bechtel's Forward Thinking Means No Hiring Rush before Vit Restart
Full construction means hundreds more high paying jobs at the Vit Plant. More >>
Full construction means hundreds more high paying jobs at the Vit Plant.

Those jobs are going to be there, but Bechtel reps tell KNDU you won't see a mad hiring rush over the next few weeks. More >>
Vit Plant Construction Back on Track
Vit Plant Construction Back on Track
After a two year wait, work on Hanford's Vit plant is finally back to normal. More >>
After a two year wait, work on Hanford's Vit plant is finally back to normal.

At long last workers are back on site at two key facilities at the nation's biggest public construction project. More >>
Vit Plant to Resume Full Construction within 30 days
Vit Plant to Resume Full Construction within 30 days
The Department of Energy has finally approved new seismic standards on the two largest parts of Hanford's Waste Treatment, or Vitrification Plant and it means work is expected to fully restart within the next 30 days. More >>
The Department of Energy has finally approved new seismic standards on the two largest parts of Hanford's Waste Treatment, or Vitrification Plant and it means work is expected to fully restart within the next 30 days.

Seismic issues on the pretreatment and high-level waste buildings halted construction a year ago amid controversy the plant couldn't hold up in a large earthquake. More >>
DOE Says Funding Needed to Keep Jobs at Vit Plant
DOE Says Funding Needed to Keep Jobs at Vit Plant
With Vit Plant work set to resume, the Department of Energy is pushing hard for continued funding. More >>
With Vit Plant work set to resume, the Department of Energy is pushing hard for continued funding.

DOE leaders worry that if funding isn't restored in the 2009 Budget, they may have to start cutting construction jobs around that time. More >>
Vitrification Plant Support Facilities Taking Shape
Vitrification Plant Support Facilities Taking Shape
Support facilities at Hanford's Vitrification Plant are taking shape.More >>
Support facilities at Hanford's Vitrification Plant are taking shape.

The plant will be supported by a cooling facility capable of cooling more than 22,000 homes, a substation for 2,000 homes and a state of the art air compressor that can fill a Goodyear blimp in only three minutes. More >>
Hanford Vitrification Plant Progress
Hanford Vitrification Plant Progress
Bechtel National, Inc. boasts a big accomplishment in Hanford clean up. Construction crews installed the exhaust stacks, Friday, for one of the Vitrification Plant's key buildings. More >>
Bechtel National, Inc. boasts a big accomplishment in Hanford clean up. Construction crews installed the exhaust stacks, Friday, for one of the Vitrification Plant's key buildings. More >>
Public Somewhat Uneducated About Vitrification
Public Somewhat Uneducated About Vitrification
It's making the area safer, but what do residents actually know about vitrification at Hanford. More >>
It's making the area safer, but what do residents actually know about vitrification at Hanford.

The process involves mixing radioactive tank waste with a sand, then melting it by running electricity through the mix before letting it settle as a glass. The solid can then be transported somewhere for safe storage. But as Hanford is cleaned up, people we talked to feel the Department of Energy needs to do more to educate the public. More >>
CH2M Hill's Bulk Vit Plant Design Complete
CH2M Hill's Bulk Vit Plant Design Complete
CH2M Hill's pilot plant at Hanford will work in much the same way as Bechtel's currently under construction, but handles low activity waste instead.More >>
CH2M Hill's pilot plant at Hanford will work in much the same way as Bechtel's currently under construction, but handles low activity waste instead.

The project allows researchers to test the vitrification process before investing millions in a permanent plant. More >>
Vit Plant Now $11.5 Billion
Vit Plant Now $11.5 Billion
$11.5 billion, that's how much researchers now anticipate it'll cost to complete Hanford's Vitrification plant. More >>
$11.5 billion, that's how much researchers now anticipate it'll cost to complete Hanford's Vitrification plant.

Now the total is $7.2 billion more expensive than the plant's orginal estimate of $4.3 billion. That's one billion dollars more than the last estimate in December 2005. More >>
Vitirfication Plant Names Project Manager
Vitirfication Plant Names Project Manager
The Vit Plant has a new project manager. He's Craig Albert.More >>
The Vit Plant has a new project manager. He's Craig Albert.More >>
Hanford Budget A 'Mixed Bag'; House Committee May Seek Vit Delays Until Design Nearly Complete
Hanford Budget A 'Mixed Bag'; House Committee May Seek Vit Delays Until Design Nearly Complete
The Hanford budget approved by the House Energy & Water Subcommittee contains less funds for the waste treatment plant- but will the money even be needed?

More >>
The Hanford budget approved by the House Energy & Water Subcommittee contains less funds for the waste treatment plant- but will the money even be needed? More >>

Hanford NewsInside HanfordMore>>
Population soars near nuclear reactors
Population soars near nuclear reactors
Updated: Friday, April 15 2011 12:33 PM EDT2011-04-15 17:33:19 GMT
Nuclear energy has been in the news lately, and unfortunately it hasn't been good news, until now.More >>
Nuclear energy has been in the news lately, and unfortunately it hasn't been good news, until now.More >>
Track U.S. radiation levels in real time
Track U.S. radiation levels In real time
Here is a website that allows you to track radiation levels in the United States in real time.More >>
Here is a website that allows you to track radiation levels in the United States. Radiationnetworkd.com is updated in real time every minute. This is the first web site where the average citizen can see what radiation levels are anywhere in the USA at any time.More >>
PNNL developed ultra-sensitive nuclear monitoring devices
PNNL developed ultra-sensitive nuclear monitoring devices
Updated: Wednesday, March 23 2011 9:38 PM EDT2011-03-24 01:38:47 GMT
RICHLAND, Wash. -- For several decades, PNNL has been conducting research and development on methods to detect very low levels of nuclear releases.More >>
RICHLAND, Wash. -- For several decades, PNNL has been conducting research and development on methods to detect very low levels of nuclear releases.More >>

Special Report: Inside the Vitrification Plant - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

Vit Plant Could Start Up by 2013

Top Headlines

Army Corps of Engineers Study Defends DOE Vit Plant

30 to 50 People a Week Hiring on at Vit Plant

Full Vit Plant Construction Could Restart Before Previously Thought

DOE Reviewing Vit Plant Seismic Report

What is Vitrification?

Vitrification Plant Site Map

Special Report: Inside the Vitrification PlantMore>>

Bechtel's Forward Thinking Means No Hiring Rush before Vit Restart

Bechtel's Forward Thinking Means No Hiring Rush before Vit Restart

Vit Plant Construction Back on Track

Vit Plant Construction Back on Track

Vit Plant to Resume Full Construction within 30 days

Vit Plant to Resume Full Construction within 30 days

DOE Says Funding Needed to Keep Jobs at Vit Plant

DOE Says Funding Needed to Keep Jobs at Vit Plant

Vitrification Plant Support Facilities Taking Shape

Vitrification Plant Support Facilities Taking Shape

Hanford Vitrification Plant Progress

Hanford Vitrification Plant Progress

Public Somewhat Uneducated About Vitrification

Public Somewhat Uneducated About Vitrification

CH2M Hill's Bulk Vit Plant Design Complete

CH2M Hill's Bulk Vit Plant Design Complete

Vit Plant Now $11.5 Billion

Vit Plant Now $11.5 Billion

Vitirfication Plant Names Project Manager

Vitirfication Plant Names Project Manager

Hanford Budget A 'Mixed Bag'; House Committee May Seek Vit Delays Until Design Nearly Complete

Hanford Budget A 'Mixed Bag'; House Committee May Seek Vit Delays Until Design Nearly Complete

Hanford NewsInside HanfordMore>>

Population soars near nuclear reactors

Population soars near nuclear reactors

Track U.S. radiation levels in real time

Track U.S. radiation levels In real time

PNNL developed ultra-sensitive nuclear monitoring devices

PNNL developed ultra-sensitive nuclear monitoring devices